Dr. Rick Verhage
Biography
After spending his childhood and high-school education in the Netherlands Rick moved to the city of Antwerp in 2004 for a study in biomedical sciences at the University of Antwerp. Because of changing personal interests he started his professional bachelor education in nursing in 2008. Directly after graduation his profession as a nurse started at the Intensive Therapy Unit at ZNA Stuivenberg, where he still works today. Because of personal interest and to increase his acute care knowledge he followed a specialized bachelor course in emergency and intensive care nursing in 2012. As a thesis for completing this course he had a thorough look at the latest scientific research on humidification and heating strategies for oxygen therapy. This research led to the creation of a humidification flow chart, in cooperation with Dries Kees. It is with this flow-chart that we try to implement the latest evidence based principles of humidification/heating with oxygen therapy in everyday practice. Evidence based nursing will become even more important in the future and Rick hopes he can contribute to the ongoing evolution of this profession. Since 6 months Rick also started a teaching position at the Medical Department of campus Vesta in Ranst, Belgium (www.campusvesta.be). Campus Vesta is a regional provincial teaching institute for policeworkers, fireman, and other companies (Antwerp harbor, petrochemical industry, nautical schools, nursing homes,…)